Platform IO Download: How to Install and Use the Professional IDE for Embedded Development
If you are looking for a professional collaborative platform for embedded development, you might want to check out Platform IO. Platform IO is an open source ecosystem that provides a cross-platform, cross-architecture, multiple framework tool for embedded systems engineers and developers. It also offers a modern integrated development environment (IDE) that works with many popular editors and platforms. In this article, we will show you how to download and install Platform IO, and how to use its rich set of features and benefits for creating and delivering embedded products.
What is Platform IO?
Platform IO is a tool that aims to solve the common problems and challenges faced by embedded systems engineers and developers, such as vendor lock-in, complex software integration, library dependencies, multiple platforms, frameworks, and architectures. It does so by providing a unified solution that covers all aspects of embedded development, from code editing to debugging to testing to deployment.
platform io download
A cross-platform, cross-architecture, multiple framework tool for embedded systems engineers and developers
Platform IO supports more than 50 development platforms, 1000+ boards and dev-kits, 20+ frameworks, and multiple architectures, such as ARM, AVR, Espressif (ESP8266/ESP32), FPGA, MCS-51 (8051), MSP430, Nordic (nRF51/nRF52), PIC32, RISC-V, STMicroelectronics (STM8/STM32), Teensy, TI MSP430, TI Tiva, WIZNet W7500. It also supports Arduino, CMSIS, ESP-IDF, ESP8266 RTOS SDK, Freedom E SDK, Kendryte Standalone SDK, Kendryte FreeRTOS SDK, libOpenCM3, mbed OS , PULP OS , SPL , STM32Cube , WiringPi , Zephyr RTOS frameworks.
Platform IO is written in pure Python and does not depend on any additional libraries or tools from the operating system. It can run on any modern operating system (macOS, MS Windows, Linux, FreeBSD) or even on credit-card sized computers (like Raspberry Pi , BeagleBone , CubieBoard ).
A modern integrated development environment (IDE) that works with many popular editors and platforms
Platform IO IDE is a next-generation IDE for IoT development. It is built on top of Microsoft's Visual Studio Code , a free , open source , and MIT licensed editor that offers a powerful code editor with syntax highlighting , code completion , debugging , git integration , extensions , and more . Platform IO IDE also works with other editors , such as Atom , CLion , Eclipse , Emacs , NetBeans , Qt Creator , Sublime Text , Vim .
Platform IO IDE provides a seamless integration with Platform IO Home (UI) , which is a web-based interface that allows you to manage boards , libraries , projects , settings , updates , etc . You can also use the built-in terminal with Platform IO Core (CLI) , which is a command line tool that gives you access to advanced commands and options . You can also use the powerful serial port monitor to communicate with your devices .
A rich set of features and benefits for creating and delivering embedded products
Some of the features and benefits of using Platform IO are:
Smart code completion based on variable types, function definitions, and library dependencies
Code linter that checks your code for syntax errors, potential bugs, and style issues
Integrated debugger that supports many debugging probes and target systems, and allows you to examine the call stack, watch variables, and monitor peripherals
Unit testing that enables you to create, execute, and maintain tests on the host or target hardware, and automate them on a remote machine or from a CI server
Static code analysis that utilizes popular static code analyzers to eliminate issues earlier in the development cycle and ship more reliable and secure software
Remote development that allows you to develop, debug, and test your embedded applications from anywhere in the world using SSH or VNC protocols
With Platform IO, you can also enjoy the benefits of a professional collaborative platform for embedded development, such as:
A place where developers and teams have true freedom and no more vendor lock-in
A unified solution that covers all aspects of embedded development, from code editing to debugging to testing to deployment
A decentralized architecture that offers both new and existing developers a quick integration path for developing commercial-ready products
A scalable and flexible software technology that applies to the embedded market an area traditionally served by complex software tools
How to Download and Install Platform IO?
To download and install Platform IO, you can choose one of the following installation methods:
Installation MethodDescription
Installer ScriptThis is the easiest way to install Platform IO Core (CLI) on macOS, Linux, or Windows. It will automatically download and install Python 3.6+ interpreter (if not installed) and Platform IO Core (CLI) with all dependencies. You can run this script from your system terminal or command prompt.
Python Package ManagerThis is the recommended way to install Platform IO Core (CLI) if you already have Python 3.6+ interpreter installed on your system. You can use pip , which is a Python package manager, to install Platform IO Core (CLI) with all dependencies. You can run this command from your system terminal or command prompt.
HomebrewThis is an alternative way to install Platform IO Core (CLI) on macOS or Linux. Homebrew is a popular package manager that simplifies the installation of software on these operating systems. You can use brew , which is a Homebrew command-line tool, to install Platform IO Core (CLI) with all dependencies. You can run this command from your system terminal or command prompt.
Development VersionThis is an advanced way to install Platform IO Core (CLI) if you want to get the latest features and bug fixes from the development branch. You can use git , which is a version control system, to clone the Platform IO Core (CLI) repository from GitHub. Then you can use pip , which is a Python package manager, to install Platform IO Core (CLI) with all dependencies. You can run these commands from your system terminal or command prompt.
You can find the detailed installation guide and the quick start guide for each installation method on the official Platform IO documentation website. After installing Platform IO Core (CLI), you can install Platform IO IDE by following these steps:
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Download and install Visual Studio Code , which is a free , open source , and MIT licensed editor that supports Platform IO IDE extension.
Launch Visual Studio Code and open the Extensions view by clicking on the Extensions icon in the Activity Bar on the side of VSCode or using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+X .
Type platformio into the search field , select PlatformIO IDE from the list , and click Install . This will automatically install PlatformIO IDE along with other dependent extensions.
Reload Visual Studio Code when prompted.
You can also find the detailed installation guide and the quick start guide for Platform IO IDE on the official Platform IO documentation website. After installing Platform IO IDE, you can create your first project by following these steps:
Open the PlatformIO Home screen by clicking on the Home icon in the Activity Bar on the side of VSCode or using the keyboard shortcut Alt+P .
Select New Project from the Quick Access menu or click on the New Project button on the PlatformIO Home screen.
Fill in the project name, select the board and framework you want to use, and click Finish. This will create a new project folder with the necessary files and configuration.
Open the main source file (usually src/main.cpp) and write your code or copy an example code from the PlatformIO documentation website.
Build your project by clicking on the Check icon in the Status Bar at the bottom of VSCode or using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Alt+B . This will compile your code and generate a firmware binary file.
Upload your project by clicking on the Right Arrow icon in the Status Bar at the bottom of VSCode or using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Alt+U . This will upload the firmware binary file to your board via a USB cable or a wireless connection.
Monitor your project by clicking on the Plug icon in the Status Bar at the bottom of VSCode or using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Alt+M . This will open the serial port monitor and display the output from your board.
How to Use Platform IO?
Once you have installed and created your first project with Platform IO, you can start exploring its features and capabilities. Here are some of the things you can do with Platform IO:
Explore the Platform IO Home (UI) with board and library managers, project wizard, and example projects
The Platform IO Home screen is a web-based interface that allows you to manage your boards, libraries, projects, settings, updates, etc. You can access it by clicking on the Home icon in the Activity Bar on the side of VSCode or using the keyboard shortcut Alt+P . Some of the things you can do with Platform IO Home are:
Search for and install new boards and libraries using the Board Manager and Library Manager tabs. You can also update or uninstall existing boards and libraries.
Create new projects or import existing projects using the Project Wizard tab. You can also open, edit, or delete existing projects.
Browse and run example projects from various frameworks using the Examples tab. You can also import them as new projects.
Configure your global settings, such as platformio.ini file location, default serial port, default baud rate, etc., using the Settings tab. You can also check for updates and view your account information.
Use the Platform IO Core (CLI) for advanced commands and options
The Platform IO Core is a command line tool that gives you access to advanced commands and options for managing your projects, boards, libraries, etc. You can access it by opening the built-in terminal in VSCode or using your system terminal or command prompt. Some of the things you can do with Platform IO Core are:
Initialize a new project or update an existing project using the platformio project init command. You can specify various options, such as board, framework, directory, etc.
Build a project or multiple projects using the platformio run command. You can specify various options, such as environment, target, verbose mode, etc.
Upload a project or multiple projects using the platformio run --target upload command. You can specify various options, such as environment, port, speed, etc.
Clean a project or multiple projects using the platformio run --target clean command. You can specify various options, such as environment, target, verbose mode, etc.
Monitor a project or multiple projects using the platformio device monitor command. You can specify various options, such as port, baud rate, filter, etc.
List all available boards using the platformio boards command. You can also filter by platform or framework.
List all installed platforms using the platformio platform list command. You can also show details or update them.
List all installed libraries using the platformio lib list command. You can also show details or update them.
Search for new platforms or libraries using the platformio platform search or platformio lib search commands. You can also install them.
Debug a project or multiple projects using the platformio debug command. You can specify various options, such as environment, port, configuration, etc.
Test a project or multiple projects using the platformio test command. You can specify various options, such as environment, target, verbose mode, etc.
Check a project or multiple projects for code quality and security issues using the platformio check command. You can specify various options, such as environment, pattern, severity, etc.
Remote a project or multiple projects using the platformio remote command. You can perform remote operations, such as run, upload, monitor, test, etc., on a remote machine or device.
You can find the detailed documentation and reference for each Platform IO Core command on the official Platform IO documentation website.
Conclusion
Platform IO is a professional collaborative platform for embedded development that provides a cross-platform, cross-architecture, multiple framework tool for embedded systems engineers and developers. It also offers a modern integrated development environment (IDE) that works with many popular editors and platforms. Platform IO has a rich set of features and benefits for creating and delivering embedded products, such as smart code completion, code linter, integrated debugger, unit testing, static code analysis, and remote development. To download and install Platform IO, you can choose one of the installation methods: installer script, Python package manager, Homebrew, or development version. To use Platform IO, you can explore the Platform IO Home (UI) with board and library managers, project wizard, and example projects. You can also use the Platform IO Core (CLI) for advanced commands and options.
FAQs
What are the main differences between Platform IO and Arduino IDE?
Platform IO and Arduino IDE are both tools for embedded development that support Arduino framework. However, Platform IO has some advantages over Arduino IDE, such as:
Platform IO supports more than 50 development platforms, 1000+ boards and dev-kits, 20+ frameworks, and multiple architectures, while Arduino IDE only supports Arduino boards and some compatible boards.
Platform IO offers a modern integrated development environment (IDE) that works with many popular editors and platforms, while Arduino IDE has a simple and limited editor that only works on desktop platforms.
Platform IO provides a rich set of features and benefits for creating and delivering embedded products, such as smart code completion, code linter, integrated debugger, unit testing, static code analysis, and remote development, while Arduino IDE lacks these features or requires additional plugins or tools.
How much does Platform IO cost?
Platform IO is an open source ecosystem that is free for personal use and education. However, if you want to use Platform IO for commercial purposes or access some premium features and services , such as professional support , advanced remote features , private libraries , etc . , you need to purchase a Platform IO Plus subscription . You can choose from different plans , such as Individual , Team , Enterprise , or Custom , depending on your needs and budget . You can find more information about Platform IO pricing on the official Platform IO website.
How can I contribute to Platform IO?
Platform IO is an open source ecosystem that welcomes contributions from anyone who wants to improve it. There are many ways you can contribute to Platform IO , such as:
Report bugs , suggest features , or ask questions on the official Platform IO GitHub repository or the official Platform IO community forum.
Submit pull requests , fix issues , or improve documentation on the official Platform IO GitHub repository or the official Platform IO documentation website.
Create new platforms , boards , frameworks , libraries , examples , etc . and share them with the Platform IO community on the official Platform IO registry or the official Platform IO community forum.
Donate to support the development and maintenance of Platform IO on the official Platform IO website or the official Platform IO Open Collective page.
How can I learn more about Platform IO?
The best way to learn more about Platform IO is to visit the official Platform IO website and the official Platform IO documentation website. There you can find all the information you need to get started with Platform IO , such as installation guide , quick start guide , tutorials , examples, reference, etc. You can also join the official Platform IO community forum, where you can interact with other Platform IO users and developers, ask questions, share ideas, showcase your projects, etc. You can also follow the official Platform IO social media accounts, such as Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, etc., where you can get the latest news, updates, tips, and tricks about Platform IO.
What are some of the alternatives to Platform IO?
Platform IO is a unique and comprehensive tool for embedded development that has no direct competitors. However, there are some other tools that offer similar or related features and capabilities for embedded development, such as:
Arduino IDE: A simple and easy-to-use tool for Arduino development that supports Arduino boards and some compatible boards. It has a limited editor and requires additional plugins or tools for advanced features.
Mbed Studio: A desktop IDE for Mbed OS development that supports Mbed-enabled boards. It has a code editor, a compiler, a debugger, a serial monitor, and a library manager.
Keil µVision: A professional IDE for ARM-based microcontrollers that supports many development boards and kits. It has a code editor, a compiler, a debugger, a simulator, and a code analyzer.
IAR Embedded Workbench: A powerful IDE for embedded development that supports many architectures and platforms. It has a code editor, a compiler, a debugger, a simulator, and a code analyzer.
Atmel Studio: A complete IDE for AVR and ARM-based microcontrollers that supports Atmel boards and kits. It has a code editor, a compiler, a debugger, a simulator, and a library manager.
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